Albert wolf



A. WOLF.

FOLDING TOOH. BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e. 1911.

Patent-ed J une 24, 1919.

'y ALBERT WOLF, or TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN.

T 0 all whom, t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT4 IVoLr, citizen of the United States,residing at Traverse City, in the county of Grand Traverse.

and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Tooth-Brushes, of which the following. is a speciication.

This invention relates to an improved-- tooth brush and has as itsprimary object to provide a device of this character which may be foldedinto compact form to be carried about in the pocket.

The invention has as a further object to provide a tooth brush which,when folded, will be of minimum thickness as well as of minimum length.y

` And a still further object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which will be of exceedingly simple construction and may thus beproduced at small cost.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds andin the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment ofthe invention and wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation particularly illustrating the sectionalconstruction of the body of the brush, as well as the manner in whichthe sections of the brush body are hingedly connected,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the brush unfolded ready for use,and

Fig. 3 is a view showing the brush folded and arranged within a casetherefor.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a brush body which is splitlongitudinally to form complemental mating members 10. This brush bodymay be constructed of any suitable material and at one extremity isreduced in width to form a brush head 11, while the opposite extremityof the body provides a suitable handle for the brush. Set into the brushhead 11 are brush bristles 12, a single row of the said bristles beingpreferably arranged upon each of the members 10 of the body. Connectingthe members 10 at a point substantially midway between the ends of thebrush body is a suitable hinge 13, preferably countersunk into theconfronting side faces of the said members. These members are,therefore, adapti f Specification of Letters Patent.

vFOLDING. Toorn-BRUSH.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Y yApplication filed September 6, 1917. Serial No. 190,043.

ed to be swung transversely away from each other to assume the positionshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the outer edges of the saidmembers confronting each other. At the handle extremity of the brushbody, the members 10 are formed with relatively short outer sections 14@swingingly connected to the longer inner sections of the said members byhinge joints l5, preferably of the type shown. The outer sections 14 maythus be swung to extend in alinement with the inner sections, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, with the meeting ends of the several sectionsabutting. At the same time, the outer sections may be folded upon theinner sections to lie, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, against theinner edges of the said inner sections. At their outer ends, thesections 14 are formed with reduced squared terminals 16 and 17.Pivotally connected with the terminal 16 is a catch 18 adapted to fitover the terminal 17 for connecting the members 10 of the brush body atthe adjacent extremity thereof.

When it is intended to use the brush, the complemental members 10 of thebrush bodyare arranged in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,with the outer sections 1l of the said members extending longitudinallyfrom the inner sections thereof to complete the brush handle when thecatch 18 is engaged with the terminal 17, as previously described, forholding the complemental members of the brush body in position with theinner side faces thereof abutting. In this position of the said members,the rows of bristles 12 will be brought into close relation extendingparallel to 'each other to provide an effective brush. To fold thebrush, the catch 18 is first released, when the members 10 of the brushbody are swung apart to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. With the said members thus Vdisposed, the device will be ofminimum thickness. The outer sections 14 of the members 10 are thenswung inwardly to rest against the inner edgesof the inner sections ofthe said members so that the brush will then be of minimum length. vInthis connection, it will be observed, as shown in Fig. 8, that ,theouter sections 14 will, when folded, lie within the lines of the outerends of the bristles 12.

It will therefore be seen that I provide a very simple and effectiveconstruction whereby the brush may be folded into compact form to becarried about Within the pocket and preferably, a case 19 is employed toreceive the brush when fso folded. This case may be formed of anysuitable material and is open at its upper end so 'that the folded brushmay be readily inserted therein. The case will thus eiiicientlyprotectthe brush bristles and, atits v.lower extremity, is preferablyprovided with suitable openings for Ventilating and draining nthe saidbristles.

Furthermore, the case will serve 5to maintainV the complemental membersl0 .of the brush body folded outwardly as well `as sto `maintain thesections 14 Vof :the .said members folded against the innersectionsthereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: o

A tooth brush including thin complemental members hingedly connected attheir longitudinal 'edges #and -having corresponding end `portionsthereof providing a brush head and opposite corresponding end portions ahandle, bristle tufts carried by the brush head, the 'members beingformed offhingedly connected inner fandtouter sections normally disposedend to end, and means connecting the outer sections at their vouter endsfor holding the members .in position-abutting .f at correspondingside.faces thereof andllocking the `:members sagainst separation.

In testimony whereof .I my signature.

ALBERT [Les] Copies of this vpatent may .be obtained forve cents each,by addressing the Gommissionervf Patents,

f Washington, f1). y(3.

